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IMDbPro

eXistenZ

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
102K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,184
196
Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
Trailer for eXistenZ
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
99+ Photos
HorrorMysterySci-Fi
A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged.A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged.A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
102K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,184
196
    • David Cronenberg
    • David Cronenberg
  • Stars
    • Jude Law
    • Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Ian Holm
    • David Cronenberg
    • David Cronenberg
  • Stars
    • Jude Law
    • Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Ian Holm
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 577User reviews
    • 190Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    eXistenZ
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch eXistenZ

    Photos144

    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    eXistenZ (1999)
    eXistenZ (1999)
    Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)
    Jennifer Jason Leigh in eXistenZ (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jude Law
    Jude Law
    • Ted Pikul
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Allegra Geller
    Ian Holm
    Ian Holm
    • Kiri Vinokur
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Gas
    Don McKellar
    Don McKellar
    • Yevgeny Nourish
    Callum Keith Rennie
    Callum Keith Rennie
    • Hugo Carlaw
    Christopher Eccleston
    Christopher Eccleston
    • Seminar Leader
    Sarah Polley
    Sarah Polley
    • Merle
    Robert A. Silverman
    Robert A. Silverman
    • D'Arcy Nader
    Oscar Hsu
    Oscar Hsu
    • Chinese Waiter
    Kris Lemche
    Kris Lemche
    • Noel Dichter
    Vik Sahay
    Vik Sahay
    • Male Assistant
    Kirsten Johnson
    Kirsten Johnson
    • Female Assistant
    James Kirchner
    • Landry
    Balázs Koós
    • Male Volunteer
    Stephanie Belding
    Stephanie Belding
    • Female Volunteer
    Gerry Quigley
    • Trout Farm Worker
      • David Cronenberg
      • David Cronenberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jennifer Jason Leigh had already finished shooting her role in Eyes Wide Shut (1999) when she took on this role. When her scenes in that movie required re-shooting, the schedule required for it interfered with this one. Leigh chose to stay on this movie, and her role in Eyes Wide Shut (1999) was re-cast.
    • Goofs
      When Pikul is extracting the tooth from Allegra's shoulder, the sleeve of her top is rolled down. In the next shot after it comes out, her shoulder is covered again, but Pikul's hand resting on it hasn't moved. (There are deliberate costume discontinuities in this movie, when the characters shift in and out of eXistenZ, but this isn't one of them.)
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Chinese Waiter: Hey, tell me the truth... are we still in the game?

    • Alternate versions
      Canadian distributor Alliance Atlantis removed some graphic violence from the Ontario version of the film in a failed attempt to lower the Restricted rating to Adult Accompaniment.
    • Connections
      Edited into The History of the Hands (2016)

    User reviews577

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Cronenberg Levels Up
    From the brilliantly twisted mind of director David Cronenberg comes "eXistenZ." What is "eXistenZ," exactly? A new male enhancement product? No, rather, it's a reality enhancement product; a new type of video-game/virtual reality experience, to be even more specific. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays the programmer of said video game, while Jude Law plays her hapless protector and our surrogate as the audience. The further down the rabbit-hole Law's character goes, so too do we, until we are left dizzy and without words to describe what we just saw.

    Early in the film, our characters are on the run from somebody who wants to do away with this ground-breaking technology. They'll have to deal with a creepy Willem DeFoe character and deadly spores along the way, while still finding time to explore their new reality and test their limitations. Cronenberg's film pretty much hits the ground running and doesn't allow us the chance to catch our breath as it levels up. Because this is vintage Cronenberg, of course there is plenty of gooey grossness to go around, the least of which are the "portholes" that allow would-be gamers to plug in. Those crushing on the lovely Leigh may find themselves feeling somewhat conflicted about whether the "porthole" exploring is sensual or nausea inducing.

    Plot-wise, the film draws comparisons to other late '90s tech- thrillers like "Dark City" and "The Matrix." Heck, even the DVD box- art states that "eXistenZ" "makes 'The Matrix' look like 'Child's Play.'" Well, I don't know about all that, seeing as how I personally don't ever recall seeing a killer doll dodging bullets in that movie, but no matter. What sets "eXistenZ" apart is that it is less focused on its dystopian future and more focused on our present quandary in balancing technological advances with good old down-to- earth human experience. Like the best Cronenberg films, "eXistenZ" has a lot to say about that subject, but doesn't bludgeon or bore his audience with it. Trade the giant placenta-like sacks of skin in this film for the latest iPhone, and it's safe to say that "eXistenZ" was ahead of its time, to say the least.
    helpful•22
    5
    • Minus_The_Beer
    • May 14, 2017

    FAQ1

    • Why have I never even heard of this film, much less seen it until today - March 21 2021?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 23, 1999 (United States)
      • Canada
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Rockwood Conservation Area, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Dimension Films
      • Alliance Atlantis Communications
      • Canadian Television Fund
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 37 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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